Cowboys Faifai Loa under injury cloud

Winger Kalifa Faifai Loa will have to pass a fitness test before he is cleared to play for the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys in Friday night's round 22 NRL match against the Canterbury Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium in Sydney.

The 21-year-old suffered a hamstring strain which forced him from the field in the first half of Saturday night's 30-18 victory against Penrith at Dairy Farmers Stadium.

He was today included by coach Neil Henry in an unchanged Cowboys 17 to face the Bulldogs in North Queensland's first Friday night game since round five.

The Cowboys have climbed to third place on the NRL ladder on 30 points, only two points behind second-placed Manly, while the Bulldogs are one of three clubs on 20 points, four points outside the top eight.

A win on Friday night would see the Cowboys equal the club record for most points in a season, jointly held by the 2005 and 2007 sides.

Meanwhile, fullback Shannon Gallant is expected to make his return from a long-term groin injury for the Mackay Cutters against Wynnum-Manly in the Intrust Super Cup this weekend.